Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei

Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei
東魏孝靜帝
Emperor of Eastern Wei
Reign8 November 534[1] – 7 June 550[2]
RegentGao Huan (534–547)
Gao Cheng (547–549)
Gao Yang (549–550)
Born524
Died552 (aged 27–28)
SpouseEmpress Gao
Names
Family name: Yuán (元)
Given name: Shànjiàn (善見)
Era dates
  • Tiān píng (天平) 534–537
  • Yuán xiàng (元象) 538–539
  • Xīng hé (興和) 539–542
  • Wǔ dìng (武定) 543–550
Posthumous name
Emperor Xiàojìng (孝靜皇帝, lit. "filial and meek")
HouseYuan
DynastyEastern Wei
FatherYuan Dan, Prince Wenxuan of Qinghe [zh]
MotherConsort Hu

Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei ((東)魏孝靜帝) (524 – 21 January 552[3]), personal name Yuan Shanjian (元善見), was the founder and the only emperor of China's Eastern Wei dynasty. In 534, the Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei had fled the capital Luoyang to reestablish the imperial government at Chang'an. Northern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan made Emperor Xiaojing emperor as Emperor Xiaowu's replacement. Gao Huan moved the capital from Luoyang to Yecheng, thus dividing Northern Wei into two. Emperor Xiaojing's state became known as Eastern Wei. Although Gao Huan treated him with respect, real power was in the hands of Gao Huan, and then Gao Huan's sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang. In 550, Gao Yang forced Emperor Xiaojing to yield the throne to him, ending the Eastern Wei and establishing the Northern Qi dynasty. Around the new year 552, the former Emperor Xiaojing was poisoned to death on the orders of the new emperor.

  1. ^ (冬十月丙寅,即位于城东北,大赦天下,改永熙三年为天平元年。) Wei Shu, vol.12
  2. ^ ([武定八年五月]丙辰,诏归帝位于齐国,即日逊于别宫。) Wei Shu, vol.12
  3. ^ jiyou day of the 12th month of the 2nd year of the Tianbao era, per Emperor Xiaojing's biography in Book of Wei. (齐天保元年五月己未,封帝为中山王,.....。二年十二月己酉,中山王殂,时年二十八) Wei Shu, vol.12